How can I check if my helmet is okay?

[repiV]

I had a minor accident the other day - dropped my Fazer trying to U-turn on a hill with loose gravel...would have been moving at less than 10mph when I went down. I think it was a fairly violent fall though - I lost the front end and fell sideways. Bike landed on top of me and I've got a great big bruise on my leg, and then I bumped my head on the road. The fall also snapped a mirror which withstood two drops from 0mph when the sidestand wasn't as down as it should have been.
It didn't feel like much of an impact but then the helmet would cushion it. I could have sworn I hit the side of my head but the visible damage to the helmet is on the aerodynamic protrusion from the rear (I have a Shoei X-Spirit), but not on the round shell itself. There's some little chips in it including one maybe a milimetre or three deep.
Is it likely to have taken much internal damage, and how can I find out?
I really can't afford to replace it without knowing I need to, as I suspect it's ok.

Thanks.

[Rookie]

You suspect it's OK, but you'll only know for sure when you have your next crash. Willing to take the risk? If funds are low buy a cheap one to tide you through.

[repiV]

Is there not a way to get it professionally examined?
It cost me £415 and I've only been riding for a few weeks, plus I'm in absolutely dire financial straits at this moment in time. So you can understand my reluctance to consign it to the scrapheap.

[Rookie]

https://www.sounddistribution.co.uk/products.asp?recnumber=2314

That might do the trick, but then if the light turns red it's just a waste of another £20.

[repiV]

Ooh, that looks like just the trick. Thanks!

[repiV]

Hmm...I've just had a look inside the helmet. The squishy bit (seems a bit like extra-malleable, tough polystyrene) on the inside of the helmet seems to be damaged in a couple of places - no more than a centimetre squared in each case. It's got the same thickness, but on the surface it's like it's been pushed in...it's a little softer than the rest.
Does this mean it's scrap?

[SonicTheHedge...]

Quite possibly, but depending on the manufacturer you may be able to get it tested.
An ex of mine was able to send her lid back to Arai (I think it was, anyway) and get it X-rayed, who then pronounced it fit for purpose.
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Previous: '00 G2 Bandit 600 Naked. Now: '08 BMW GS Adventure.

[nick606]

i would get it replaced

i have a few marks on my helmet but no indentations and im going to get a another helmet and keep his for work. Because other people on my course think its fun to try on and hide my helmet also slap it ARGGGGGG it makes me so angry !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! sorry about that

[McGee]

Put it on and get a like minded mate to put his on.

Stand at each end of a hallway/living room or corridor and charge each other head first.

If you wake up in hospital I guess its broken
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◙◙► K6 GSXR 600 ◄◙◙◙◙► K5 GSXR 1000 ◄◙◙◙◙► K5 GSXR 600 ◄◙◙◙◙► 96 RF600r ◄◙◙
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Its pronounced Jixxer!

[repiV]

[repiV]

[repiV]

[nick606]

yes the people doing the same course as me could be mistake for 6 year olds

[Finglonga]

The polystyrene acts a s a cushion to stop the impact mashing your brain. The outer shell is what stops the polystyrene disintegrating on impact. If that is damaged in any way then the shell could split and the rest of the helmet would follow.

Sounds like you have got an expensive paper weight now. I would get a cheaper lid until you have mastered U-turns.
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Andy Sez....
F.Y.Y.F.F.

[Irezumi aka Reuben]

[repiV]

Bollocks...
Well I just spoke to the shop I ordered it from (all the way over in Essex, should be a nice ride) and he says they can send it off to be X-rayed. Of course I'd still need a new helmet in the mean time, so he's going to order in an XR-1000 for me and then I'll go pick it up and leave this with them. £216...a lot less of a sting in the pocket than the X-Spirit.

[Ariel Badger]

You can get a reasonable hat for a ton. It will not have the high fashion lable on it though. £450 and £216 seems a waste on a hat if you are still struggling with U-turns and keep dropping it.
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Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[pwntifex]

Get yourself an HJC CS-12—just as good, protection-wise, as a Shoei, but £80 instead of silly money.
Especially if you fall over during a U-Turn man, come on.
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the warped one: This is a follow up from the thread 'my willy hurts'

[beast rider]

[repiV]

Well I went to Hein Gericke today, showed the damage on the inside to the manager who I know quite well - he said it was completely useless, may aswell bin it.
Of equal concern, he said the helmet I had was clearly far too big. So I suppose this was like a blessing in disguise and it's a good thing I've got a new helmet that fits properly. I've got an Arai Chaser now...it's actually a lot more comfortable and a lot quieter (and cheaper). It's just a better lid overall.

Re. dropping the bike on u-turns, I think the main problem is that I can only reach the ground on tiptoes making stop/start balance much more difficult than it should be. The fact that the road I used was a hill with a worse than usual camber and had loose gravel of course made this much worse. My bike control is very good overall. I never ever dropped or nearly dropped a 125 in 1000 miles and I'm a far better rider now than I was then.
I might look into getting the seat lowered, but I understand it can be fairly expensive.

[alpine]

[DaveH]

Have you thought about claiming it on your house insurance policy?
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https://www.timhastingsracing.co.uk/

ZX7R & ER6F

[repiV]

[repiV]

[DaveH]